Software and data centre infrastructure firm Softcat has welcomed a record 78 new members of staff into its ranks.

The majority of the new recruits are joining the Buckinghamshire-based company’s fast-track graduate scheme and will go on to work in sales, technical and administrative roles in Softcat’s offices in London, Bristol, Manchester, Leeds and Glasgow.

CEO Martin Hellawell said: “It’s exciting to be welcoming a record number of people into the company today.

“Attracting and recruiting bright, enthusiastic and passionate people is a cornerstone of Softcat’s success and something we put a lot of effort into getting right.

“The IT industry is an exciting and dynamic place to work and I’m delighted that today’s recruits have chosen to start their careers with Softcat.

“Many of our managers and directors are home-grown, starting out at a junior level and working their way up.”

The news comes less than a month after Softcat welcomed 23 new employees on to its apprenticeship scheme.

Softcat has seen staff numbers increase from 400 to 1,000 in the last five years.

Hellawell, an IT veteran who worked at Computacenter for 13 years, joined Softcat in 2006. He was made chief executive in 2014 and led the November 2015 flotation which valued Softcat at £472m.